Cough generated Basic Reproductive Number dependence on ventilation strategy and air exchange rate used in the indoor environment

Abstract

Effectiveness of four ventilation strategies (mixing, displacement, underfloor and personalized ventilation) as control measures against airborne infectious disease transmission was investigated. Experiments were performed in Field Environmental Chamber at 6 and 12 air change rates per hour (ACH), using a cough machine to simulate cough of infected person in sitting and standing positions. Study conclusions are as follows: (i) PV performs best among all the ventilation strategies for all the flow rates examined, (ii) MV performs best among total volume ventilation system. UF and DV showed increased probability of getting infected when ACH was increased from 6 to 12, (iii) PV allows increase in occupant density compared to total volume systems while keeping basic reproductive number below 1 (outbreak will die off).